funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

okay, shout out to my friend who recommended this book because honestly, i don’t know if i would have picked it up. i only became aware of TJ Klune this year (after my friends recommendation and reading Under The Whispering Door) and whilst i liked that one, i wasn’t overwhelmed and so thought, this could be the same.

this was better.

~spoilers to follow~

i will start by saying, this book was slow to begin with. i stopped for a few days (hence why its taken me almost 2 weeks to read) because i wasn’t overly enamoured with it. the pacing between the 0%-30% was not there for me and i was worried i wouldn’t pick it up again. however, as soon as i hit that mark, i couldn’t stop reading. i have consumed the last 10 chapters or so because i loved it. i loved the characters, i loved the story, i loved the dialogue. it was as cosy and warm and fulfilling as i wanted a fantasy book to be. i wanted the hints of a romance, i wanted the bonding between linus and the children, i wanted him to stand up for himself and i got all that. i got everything i wanted from this book and more. sure it was a bit predictable in parts but that didn’t take anything away from the story. i liked that. 

i took to each of the characters immediately. even if linus was intended to be someone you didn’t like, i did. he was sweet. he had a job to do and he lived by that and that’s okay! but his character development over the book really stood out for me. the linus you see by the end of the book is not the man you meet on those first few pages. i will say that i found his relationship with arthur developed a bit quickly and i didn’t believe in it as much as his relationships with the children, but by the end of it i was truly rooting for them. i liked all of the children individually and together; they all had their quirks about them and i could picture them all perfectly. they were funny too! i found myself laughing at this book more than i thought i would which was wonderful! i said it in an earlier update but theodore was my favourite. when he shows linus his nest/hoard and linus sees all the things he’s collected? well i started crying and i didn’t really stop. 

this book was not what i was expecting. there were a few moments of repetition towards the beginning but i couldn’t not give it 5 stars. not when it surprised me, made me laugh, made me cry and made me put my kindle down with sheer joy. 

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book was gifted to me by one of my cousins after I was outed to a family that was less than accepting. I only just now read it, years after it was given, and my only regret is I wish I'd read it sooner. This book was very comforting and a great escape from the real world.

I've seen other reviews say the book "lacks depth" or that is overarching theme is "shallow" or "stereotypical". And to all of those reviews I say, "Okay, and?" Not every book is meant to be in depth analysis of all the intricacies of the lgbtq+ community or all the atrocities that have been committed throughout history. Yes, this book doesn't give us a lot of backstory on the children and where they come from. And the gay romance is minimal and
they don't kiss till the end of the book. The stereotypical "oh I can't go against the rules and fall for someone".
WHO CARES?! This book would have been perfect for 21 year old me who was scared and had just been outed to their whole extended family. A comforting, easy read, about found family and learning there's nothing wrong with you just as you are, would have given me the comfort I NEEDEDA during that dark time. 

Just like children need to learn the ABC's before they can write sentences, books with lgbtq+ representation that have simple overarching themes are necessary. They are great reads for those who are just learning about or kearning to accept gay people. This is the type of book I would feel good recommending to a family member that is just started to see their homophobic ways as wrong. It's a soft and sweet story about acceptance as the main plot and the gay love story as the subplot. 

I love this book for it's simplicity in themes but also it's beautiful and charming characters. Talia is funny, Lucy endearing, Chauncey ever so hopeful, and all the other children that are unique in their own personalities and struggles. It was a beautiful story and I'm excited to return to Marsyas Island when I read the sequel that was published in 2024.

I hope others enjoy this book and let themselves fall into the beautiful and warm House in the Cerulean Sea.

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A found family trope never fails to make my heart warm. 

The book melted me the way Linus bubble popped. Themes of the book aren't new but it still bring new to the table. Characters are lovely. I'm obsessed with them now thanks author. It is more than just a warm gay blanket (I'm looking at you V.E. Schwab).

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Just a perfect book!! This is huge praise coming from someone who doesn’t typically gravitate towards fantasy-type stories. I LOVED this one. It’s such beautiful commentary on love, loss, grief, prejudice, standing up to bullies, and found family. I teared up multiple times and giggled just as many. I can’t wait to read more of Klune’s books.

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i love this book with my whole heart. it feels like the warmest, gayest hug. 

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hay libros que no solo se leen, sino que se sienten. Que te arropan, que te hacen reír y cuando menos te lo esperas te hacen llorar de ternura. The house in the Cerulean Sea es uno de esos libros.

Desde el primer momento, los personajes te roban el corazón. Los niños, ay los niños jsjs, son traviesos , divertidos, únicos y adorables. Cada uno tiene una escencia tan pura especial que no puedes evitar encariñarte como si los conocieras de toda tu vida. Son unas cositas hermosas que, con sus ocurrencias, te sacan carcajadas.🥺

Linus, Arthur y Zoe tienen una evolución hermosa. Su sensibilidad, su calma y su forma de amar hacen que sea imposible no querer quedarse a vivir con ellos y los niños.

La historia tiene un aire mágico, como si Miss Peregrine se hubiera vuelto suave, amorosa, y hubiera cocinado galletas mientras te recuerdan que el amor no tiene forma, que la familia puede encontrarse en los lugares más inesperados, y que ser uno mismo es el acto más valiente y hermoso de todos.💕




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hopeful relaxing sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book was a quick read. J enjoyed it and felt driven to finish it, but found it to be a little cheesy. The symbolism is very overt. Neither of these are criticisms, this book would be a 5 star read for someone who enjoys a light, cheesy read. It just wasn't my style. 

I gave it 3.5 stars because I thought it was a good book, but didn't feel that I took things as deep, as it could have had a bit more world-building and character development and it felt like it relied on pre-conceived stereotypes surrounding foster children, adoptive families, immigrant rights, and the holocaust. However, I really liked the themes on internalized fatphobia and diet culture, queer themes, and the fact that it was a quick read that I could enjoy during a time when I needed a less thought-

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A gentle, loving book about finding peace and happiness through community in a world that doesn’t prioritize any of the above. It’s funny and queer and delightful and says everything that needs to be said about life and love, albeit sometimes with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. 

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The first half of the book felt a little slow and it took me a while to get through it. But it picked up around the midpoint and I read the last third of it in one night. 

It’s a very heartwarming and funny story about a man who has never known a family. The themes of oppression and discrimination aligned well with many struggles today, and it felt like a hopeful breath of fresh air. 

The ending made me cry and then sigh and then kick my feet and giggle. So yeah. 

Not a full five stars because there were moments (especially in the first half) that felt clunky and underdeveloped. I also was a bit put off by how far phobic the main character was about himself. It felt unkind and didn’t ever quite let up. 

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